Tape and method of reinforcing



H. J. STUART TAPE AND METHOD OF REINFORCING Oct. 23, 1945.

Filed Dec. 3, 1942 INVENTOR Henry J Siuari WlTNESEaES ORNEYS Patented Oct. 23, 1945 i Y TAPE AND ME HOD OF REINFORCING- i I Henry J. Stuart, Milford, 001111., assignorf'to I.

i -Newman & Sons, Inc., New Haven, Conn a V corporation of Connecticut f'flApplication December 3, 1942, Serial No. 4 67,"799f This invention relatesto tapes and the method of reinforcing the same, and moreparticularly to tapes adapted to bear'hooks or other fastening elements which may be subjected to considerable stress and strain.

There are a great many applications where fastening elements are attached to a flexible tape or band before being placed in finished articles, such as garments. Certain uses such as in the manufacture of corsets, these tapes bear lacing hooks which are subject to considerable strain and stress and which, unless firmly fixed in the tape, have a tendency to pull out or tear the fabric. In order to avoid this, hooks have sometimes been set in metal or other stronger materials, but this deprives themof the flexibility desired and makes them more objectionable for that reason.

An object of this invention is to provide a tape and method ofreinforcing it whereby the hooks may be placed in the tape and the tape used in the normal way. i r I A further object is to provide a tape which will be fully flexible and yet which will be strengthened at the desired points in order to avoid pulling out of the hooks or the parting or straining all the-threads of any fabric to which it is ap-.

plied, will do. There may be a number of materials which will satisfactorily perform this function; however, the material should be one which is not affected by perspiration or laundering, particularly where the tape is to be used in a garment.

Another important feature of my invention is that, with the use of such a substance, the nature of the fabric employed is notof terrific importance, since whether it is loosely or tightly woven, is strengthened sufficiently to securely carry fastening elements.

In the accompanying drawing- Fig. 1 shows one side of a tape embodying my invention;

i Fig. 2 shows. the opposite side of the same tape;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

measurements, dimensions and steps.

,, Y 7 Claims. .(01. 2-265) Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing a step in themanufacture; Y Fig. 6 is a view of asection of the tape durin manufacture. i i

As has been previously stated, the nature of the fabric used is not important, and while I have shown a herring bone tape l0, any other type of material may be used.

In describing my invention, I will use certain These measurements, dimensions and steps are not critical and will be varied to suit the particular need for which the tape is to be prepared.

The tape shown is one in which it is desired to have the hooks spaced an equidistance apart, and on the actual drawing, the center of the hooks are an inch and a half apart. To facilitate the process, the tape is run through a conventional marking machine which places marking lines ll, [2 and IS an equidistance apart. The tape may then be run through a foot press arranged to drop a spot l8 of enamel or cementing material astride each of the marking lines. Any suitable material may be used. I have found that a pyroxyline enamel consisting of about solvents and about 25 solids is an eflicient material for the purpose. The tape may then'be allowed to dry and the fastening elements attached by a suitable machine. Holes may then be punched in the tape with a conventional round needle-point punch [4 which straddles the marking line. This punch is provided with needle members l5 which do not cut or destroy any of the threads, but go through the material, spreading a pair of holes I6 and I! at a desired distance.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown a lacing hook 2|] having the usual bill 2 I, back member 22 and lugs 23 and 24. The lugs 23 and 24 are inserted through the holes l6 and I1 and fastened to the tape ID in a conventional manner.

While I have described a particular process, it will be appreciated that the essence of my invention rests in the opening of the holes 1 6 and I1 and the coating of the surrounding material to cement the threads and fibres together and the placing of a fastening element or similar item thereon so that any stress or strain borne by the element is distributed over a substantial area of the tape rather than to the area immediately adjacent the lugs or clamps by which it is' held.

It will thus be seen that the strain is spread over an area without materially decreasing the flexibility of the tape, and after completion, the tape may be rolled, washed or otherwise handled without injury, while the ability of the fastening elements to withstand stresses and strains is materially increased.

Iclaim:

1. A woven tape, apertures in said tape made by spreading the fabric, said tape being impre nated with a cement immediately around said apertures of a character unaffected by temperatures normally employed in ironing fabrics, and an element fastened to said tape through said apertures.

2. A flexible tape having a pair of apertures fastening elements having lugs through said apertures.

5. A flexible tape having fastening means secured thereto in reinforced areas located at spaced intervals along the tape; the sole reinforcing means for said areas comprising an impregnation of the tape with a relatively inflexible cement.

I 6. A flexible piece of porous material for a garment part having a fastening means secured by one or more parts piercing the material, the area immediately surrounding the piercing being impregnated with a cement applied thereto as liquid which penetrates through the material and hardens as a relatively inflexible mass.

7. A method of securing garment fastening elements to a strip of porous material, which comprises applying to small areas suitably spaced a cement of a character adapted to penetrate relatively deeply into said material and to harden into a relatively inflexible mass with strands of the material embedded therein, and securing said fastening elements in said areas by rigid clamping, parts penetrating through the material...

HENRY J. STUART. 

